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[Hazaro]

Part 3: >>>http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=944920<<<
Part 3: >>>http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=944920<<<
Part 3: >>>http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=944920<<<

Laptop-GAF and TechSupportGAF - Visit our friends here
120/144Hz LightBoost thread - For all your low frametime (High FPS) needs
2014 High-res PC screenshot thread + PC Down / Super Sampling Thread + PC Bullshot Thread (Amazing) - Beautiful candy for your pupils
Race (and Overclock) your PC Thread - Benchmark and Overclock (With Guides) your new or old PC here
Mechanical Keyboard Talk - Talk about buying expensive and loud clacky things here

This OP is a constant work in progress. If you have something to correct, add, or critique please PM me or msg @HazardVG on Twitter.

10/15/2014: Builds updated with GTX970/980 and AMD price drops. Swapped 3 cases, added G502 mouse to Peripherals. Thread Link: http://bit.ly/GAFPC2014P2
10/15/2014: [PSA] Samsung 840 EVO SSD FW update and fix is out. Only affects 840 EVO. GAF Thread.
09/18/2014: GTX970 ($330) and GTX980 ($550) launched. Builds will be updated after 9/25 in case AMD has anything to show.
08/04/2012: Two useful cooling articles: Case Fan Temps and Positioning - (Bit-Tech), 60 Fans Tested (Vortez)

If you want help with a build fill this out AND try making one of your own from the resources in the OP
Use PCPartPickerhttp://pcpartpicker.com/ to find the best prices and have a nice list of parts (Check if items are in stock!). I highly recommend Amazon, Newegg, and NCIXUS in North America.

[Basic Desktop Questions]

• Your Current Specs: CPU / RAM / Motherboard / GPU (Graphics) / PSU (Power Supply) / Case / HDD (Hard Drive)
• Budget: Price Range + Country
• Main Use: Rate 1-5. 5 being Highest: Light Gaming, Gaming, Emulation (PS2/Wii), Video Editing, Streaming games in HD, 3D/Model work (and what program), General Usage (Word, Web, 1080p playback).
• Monitor Resolution: What resolution will you be playing your games at? Are you going to upgrade later? Are you buying a new monitor?
• List SPECIFIC games or applications that you MUST be able to run well: Is 30FPS acceptable? 60? 120? How important is PhysX / SuperSampling / CUDA to you?
• Looking to reuse any parts?: List make and model (e.g. Corsair 520HX, 640GB SATA HDD, Antec 900)
• When will you build?: Do you have a deadline?
• Will you be overclocking?: Yes, No, Maybe (This means yes!)

PICKING YOUR PARTS

Anandtech's 'Bench' CPU and GPU Benchmarks - A great resource. Helpful for getting a general idea of performance or comparing hardware.


NeoGAF PC Builds

Mkenyon's Small Form Factor Build Sheet - http://bit.ly/GAFBox2014



Haz's PC Build Sheet - http://bit.ly/GAFPC2014 : This thread: http://bit.ly/GAFPC2014P2

[QUIET OPTIONS]

$50 - BitFenix Comrade

$70 - NZXT H230 . . . . .

$100 - Define R4 . . . . . . . .

$130 - Fractal Define XL R2​

[BUDGET]

$45 - SilverStone PS10B

$45 - Enermax Ostrog

$50 - CM N400 . . . . . . . . . .

$60 - Corsair 200R​

[ENHANCED]

$70 - NZXT S340 . . . . . .

$90 - Phanteks Pro . .

$100 - Phanteks Pro Adv .

$110 - Fractal Arc Midi R2​

[ENTHUSIAST]

$150 Corsair Air 540 . . .

$150 - NZXT H630 . . . .

$240 - Phanteks Primo . . . .

$400 - CaseLabs SM8​

[Micro ATX]

​

$40 - Silverstone PS08

$100 - Corsair Air 240 .

$100 - Define Mini . . . . . . .

$110 - Node 804​

• For audio equipment, also check out Headphone GAF
• Mad Lust Envy's Gaming Headphone Guide

These headphones are mainly chosen for positional quality. No budget headsets since most are poor. I suggest going with a 3.5mm mic and Xonar DGX if needed instead.

[HEADSETS]

$80 - Func HS-260

$250/300 - Sennheiser 350 SE / 363D - 363D are open ear, include virtual 7.1 DAC, and are USB.

[HEADPHONES]

$45 - Superlux HD668B

$75 - Creative Aurvana Live!

$150 - BD DT990 250 Ohm Pro

$250 - AKG Q701

[MICS]

$50 - Antlion ModMic 4.0 (Detachable magnetic clip on your headphones, great quality)

$3 - DX Clip-on mic (2-6 Week shipping)

[KEYBOARDS]

Mechanical switches are referred to Cherry MX switches. MX Brown = Quiet tactile, MX Blue = loud tactile, MX Black = stiff linear, MX Red = soft linear. Cooler Master University.

$15 - Rosewill RIKB . . . . . .

$15 - MS Keyboard 200

$50 - Corsair K30

$90 - CM Quickfire Stealth

$90 - CM Quickfire XT . .

$180 - CM Novatouch TKL

[PERFORMANCE MICE]

Speed, accuracy, and sensor customization are valued here.

Spawn is an amazing value designed for claw and hybrid grips as it centers weight right under claw grip. If you absolutely love the MX518 shape, then the G400S is a good choice at $45, but is outperformed by the Rival and M45. The Corsair is a better fit for strict palm grip with large hands, and for those who prefer a heavier mouse. The Rival is lighter and is good with palm and hybrid grips and has great software. G502 is apparently the second coming of Gaben or something like that.

$35 - CM Storm Spawn

$45 - Logitech G400S .

$60 - Corsair M45 . .

$60 - SteelSeries Rival . .

$80 - Logitech G502

[AMBIDEXTROUS AND MMO MICE]

For those extra buttons over a very precise sensor.

The Recon has a great sensor and firmware for the price, as well as an ambi grip. The Sensei does as well, and has the best sensor here. The M95's side button layout is the best of the MMO oriented mice. G700s is the only wireless mouse listed here.

$35 - CM Storm Recon . .

$60 - SS Sensei Raw

$80 - Corsair M95 . .

$90 - Logitech G700s

[PADS]

For most people, any cheap cloth pad will be fine. These are some other options.

The Ripper XXL is massive, allowing a seamless mousing surface.The CM Storm Control RX is a thicker hybrid design with a lycra surface allowing for easier gliding movements, and is best suited for low CPI/DPI. The CM Storm Power RX is a large textured surface allowing for good control without destroying mouse feet. The Artisan Shiden is a glass coated cloth pad that defies the typical trade-off between textured and smooth surfaces, as it has great control and allows for smooth whips.

$20 - XTrac Ripper XXL

$30 - CM Control-RX . . . .

$35 - CM Power-RX . .

$40-50 - Artisan Shiden L or XL

• What the hell does TN, VA, e-IPS, IPS, and PVA mean?
• What exactly is AA (Anti Aliasing) and how does it affect image quality?
• Scogoth lays out different display connectors. DVI, Dual Link DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort (DP), VGA
• NeoGAF Cheap/Korean 1440p monitor thread
• NeoGAF 120Hz/144Hz monitor thread

[BUDGET]

$140 - ASUS VS229H-P
And any $100-$140 monitor that has decent reviews and is not an lesser brand. Many of the higher monitors also go on steep discounts.

[STANDARD]

$170 - ASUS VS238H-P . .

$170 - ASUS VS239H-P

The 238H is a TN panel with better motion resolution and less input lag. The 239H is an IPS panel with better colors.

[120Hz+ @ 1080p]

$280 - BenQ XL2411Z . . . .

$280 - ASUS VG248QE

$600 - Eizo Foris FG2421

The BenQ XL2411Z is currently the best TN high refresh rate monitor to buy, with a firmware based strobing effect that works with BlurBuster's Strobing Utility. Get the ASUS VG248QE for G-Sync compatibility, module not included. The Eizo is a VA panel with native strobing which allows for very impressive colors with near zero blur.

[1440/4K]

$450 - Nixeus Vue 27 . . . .

$800 - RoG Swift . . . . .

$700 - ASUS PB287Q

The Nixeus Vue is a great H-IPS panel for the money if you're looking for a 1440p panel that has great colors. The panel used is rated A/A+, compared to the typical A- panel used in most of the "Korean IPS" monitors. It also includes a warranty, which is fairly important for a monitor this size. The RoG Swift is a TN panel with a built in G-Sync module, and is capable of 144Hz. Compared to IPS panels, the color consistency won't be as accurate, but motion resolution is near perfect with ULMB, and variable refresh rate with G-Sync will give you a smoother gaming experience on titles you can't run with 8.3ms frame times (120 FPS). The ASUS is the best large 4K monitor you can buy under $1000.

Amazon (Parts)
Newegg (Parts)
NCIX.US (Parts)
Performance-PCs (Cases, Fans Acessories)
Micro Center (Parts and great IN STORE deals)

NCIX (Parts, Assembly, Price Match)
Amazon.CA (Parts)
Canada Computers (Parts) - Eastern Regional
Memory Express (Parts, Assembly, Price Match) - Western Regional
Newegg.CA (Parts, Ships from US)

Novatech (Parts)
Overclockers UK (Parts)
Amazon UK (Parts)
Aria PC (Parts)
Ebuyer (Parts, Custom Built)
Microdirect (Parts)
HardwareVersand (Parts)
Misco (Parts)
Scan (Parts)
Dino PC (Custom Built)
YoYoTech (Custom Built)

PC Case Gear (Parts, Best Online Retailer)
PCDIY (Parts)
CPL (Parts)
Umart (Parts, Cheaper Shipping Outside Victoria)
Scorpion Technology (Parts)
MSY (Parts)
staticICE (Product Finder)

The Tech Report
PC Perspective
AnandTech
TechPowerUp
X-bit labs
HardOCP
Hardware Canucks
Jonnyguru + HardwareSecrets = Legit PSU reviews
Silent PC Review = The quiet side of computing

Ninite A batch downloader and installer for popular programs. A fantastic time saver for any new PC build.
Steam Mover tool for moving Steam games to a different HDD/SSD
Steam Tool Another tool for moving steam games.

MSI Afterburner (aka RivaTuner) allows you to manage GPU overclocking, fan speed/profiles and chart many aspects of your GPU.
CPU-Z - gathers information on your Motherboard, BIOS, CPU, FSB, VCORE voltage and memory timings.
GPU-Z gathers information (Speed, architecture, temps) on your video card and GPU.
Real Temp allows you to monitor the temperature of your CPU core(s).
HWInfo allows you to monitor fan speed, temperature, voltage, etc.
CrystalDiskMark Tests read and write speed of your hard drives.

nVidia Inspector allows you to optimize the display, improve the performance and fully utilize your NVIDIA graphics card.
Radeon Pro allows you to optimize the display, improve the performance and fully utilize your AMD graphics card.
Dxtory / nVidia driver options allows you to limit the frame rate on most games. Excellent for older games or just getting a locked framerate.
Fraps allows you to record real time video, take screen captures and display your FPS.
Open Broadcast Software a streaming and recording program for things like Twitch.TV A free and better competitor to XSplit.

OCCT allows you to stress test your CPU and GPU, along with GPU memory.
Prime95 allows you to stress test your CPU and RAM for stability.
FURMark allows you to stress test your video card.
Memtest86+ allows you to run a full memory scan to deal with the blue screen of death and system errors.

 

[Hazaro]

[Video Build Guides]

The Tech Report - A nicely laid out and compact build guide

TTL OC3D - A more enthusiast build guide that covers some extra things you can do along with cable management

Thermal Paste: Apply as a ~4mm ball to the CPU. Press the heatsink down and tighten. Line method is ok. Application matters way less than you think. If you take the heatsink off, clean it with alcohol and reapply or you will trap air.
That darn CoolerMaster 212: Why won't you install I swear I was good with computers. A handy picture guide.

[Overclocking Guides]

Socket 1155 Overclocking Guide (Sandy, Ivy, 2500K, 3570K, 3770K, all motherboards)
Socket 1150 (Haswell) OC Guide (4670K, 4770K)
3 step guide to overclocking Haswell (Socket 1150, Z87, 4670K, 4770K)
SSD Setup and Tweaking
Video Card Cooler Guide by mkenyon(ZFZ)

[Help! My PC won't turn on/POST/Boot]

• Check your manual for beep codes or debug LED display codes
• Shutoff your PC, switch off the PSU, and unplug the power cable. Wait 10s and hold the power button to drain the remaining power out of the system
• Check your power is on I and the correct Voltage (120V/240V)
• Check that you plugged in the extra motherboard power (4 or 8 pin)
• Reconnect all your cables (Data and Power)
• Try a single stick of memory in the first RAM slot (read your manual), then try the other
• Check for any loose screws or bits in the case and behind the motherboard
• Check that you installed the motherboard standoff screws (Some cases have these pre-installed)
• Remount the GPU on another PCI-E slot, or try no GPU
• As a last step assemble the bare minimum outside the case (PSU, CPU, Heatsink, 1 stick of RAM, nothing else)

[mkenyon's Guide to Efficient Formatting/Windows Installation]

1. Get an ISO of either Windows 7 or Windows 8.
2. While the ISO is downloading, go to your motherboard manufacturer's website to the support section. Locate your motherboard and download the newest Chipset, Audio, USB 3.0, and LAN drivers. If your motherboard has unique features such as the ASUS RoG line, it's a good idea to get the drivers for those as well. Put those on a separate flash drive.
3. Go to NVIDIA or AMD's website and download the latest videocard drivers. Put those on the same flash drive as the motherboard drivers.
4. Next, download the Microsoft USB Installation utility. Use this to put Windows on a Flash Drive.
   
5. If you are installing Windows 7, you'll need to take an extra step of allowing you to choose the proper SKU for installation, as the ISO is Ultimate by default. Once the utility is finished writing the ISO to your Flash Drive, open the drive in Windows Explorer, and locate the 'Sources' folder. In this folder is a file called 'ei.cfg'. Delete that.
6. Next, start the PC with the Flash Drive plugged directly into your rear I/O. Upon boot, go into UEFI/BIOS, as you will need to set the Flash Drive to be the primary boot disk. Once this is completed, restart your system and begin installing Windows.
7. Once you are in, go ahead an put the flash drive in with the drivers. Install those, and reboot.
8. After you reboot, you should be able to run Windows Update, which will most likely install all of the remaining drivers as well as update Windows.
9. When Windows Update finishes, you can go into Device Manager to check if there are any unrecognized devices. If there are, get the drivers for those from your motherboard manufacturer's website.

If you used your USB as a boot device for something else and Windows won't install check this post using diskpart.

[SSD Tip and Tools]

SSD Setup and tweak guide [SSDReview]

Disable defragmentation
Description: Defragmenting a hard disk's used space is only useful on mechanical disks with multi-millisecond latencies. Free-space defragmentation may be useful to SSDs, but this feature is not available in the default Windows Defragmenter.
Instructions: Start Menu -> Right-Click Computer -> Manage -> Services and Applications -> Services - > Right-Click Disk Defragmenter -> Startup type: Disabled -> OK

Disable Hibernate
Description: You may free up 1GB of space on the SSD if you have 1GB of memory, 2GB of space if you have 2GB memory. You will lose the hibernation feature which allows the equivalent of quick boots and shutdowns.
Instructions: Start Menu -> Type cmd -> Right-Click the cmd Icon -> Run as Administrator -> Type powercfg -h off -> Type exit

Links to useful SSD tools:
Crystal Mark Bench + NFO Tool
AS-SSD TOOL
Steam Mover Tool

2014 Thread Part 1 + Part 2 + Part 3
2013 Thread Part 1 + Part 2
2012 Thread Part 1 + Part 2
2011 Thread Part 1 + Part 2
2010 Thread / 2009 Thread / 2008 Thread

 

[mkenyon]

Small Form Factor Build Guide
Or, how to build the GAF Box One

Quick note, these builds will be updated in a few weeks with AMD's Kaveri APUs releasing soon. They might shake up a bit more than budget HTPCs.

One of the main factors that one faces when dealing with SFF builds is ensuring that heatsinks and parts fit in the tiny spaces provided. The parts in these build sheets are far less loose in terms of picking out something slightly different. I can only ensure proper clearances on the items that are in the build sheet.

In terms of being able to hold the most powerful hardware, only the CM 120 Elite is limited. So if you want to pack a 280x, 780, or Titan in an ITX enclosure, then you'll want to skip that. From there it's mostly a choice of aesthetics, though the Prodigy/Phenom is the most capable in terms of moving heat.

The AMD APU builds are perfectly good gaming machines if you aren't planning on running anything graphically intensive. Indie games, Source, older titles, and even some newer ones like Dirt will run wonderfully on these systems. You do get what you pay for in terms of performance when you upgrade to the A8 or A10, though the A6 will certainly be able to handle HTPC tasks and light gaming. If you are just looking for an inexpensive computer that will handle browsing, 1080p video, and light gaming, then it's definitely the way to go. The HTPC builds will fit in all of the cases, but I only included them in the two cases that would look acceptable in a media center. That's a subjective call on my part, so if you are smitten with another case design, feel free to apply the HTPC column to any of the other cases.

Also, none of these cases will fit GPUs that are larger than two slots. This means stuff like the Tri-Frozr, Gainward Phantom, ASUS DCuII, and the like. If you have questions about a card in specific, please ask.​

 

[Tablo]

May all join the SSD hype train with the glorious advent of the MX100, all hail the bestowed price of 200$ for 512GB of mystical 16nm flash memory!

 

[maneil99]

I have a XL2420z whats the difference between it and the xl2411z.

 

[DarkFlow]

Love that new thread smell.

 

[Exuro]

Will my 920 run The Witcher 3?

Just saw the Fractal Node 804 in the other thread. Love the look of it. The 304 is a great little box and I wouldn't mind having something a little bigger for myself.

 

[Smokey]

Will my 920 run The Witcher 3?

Yes.

 

[fader]

Love that new thread smell.

whaaa-

 

[lemonade]

awesome. glad to see that my 2500k can still kick some butt. haven't even had to overclock yet. bout time to build another rig though. Maxwell cant come soon enough

 

[Smokey]

awesome. glad to see that my 2500k can still kick some butt. haven't even had to overclock yet. bout time to build another rig though. Maxwell cant come soon enough

Why not?

Free performance for adjust 2 values and 5 minutes of your time.

 

[Granadier]

Hopefully I'll have built a rig before Part 3.

 

[Hazaro]

Some notes:

• MX100 greatest thing since sliced bread, we'll see if the $100/256GB price holds or if it's temp
• As soon as the Phanteks Mini XL / Evolv are released they are going in. All the Phanteks cases seriously outclass the others at the moment.
• Z97/H97 boards are still tossups on what stays
• Initial impressions of Devils Canyon are lukewarm with minor temp changes and +100/200Mhz on OCs (And possibly harder to OC [H]). Biggest winner is the Pentium as a stopgap and the i7 getting a boost to 4.2(?)Ghz stock.
• Yes, your 2500K is still actually fine
• Please read OP, please.
• Need to vet the $80 headset a bit more, honestly thinking a cheap headset and Modmic are better since you can swap the Modmic and the 4.0 is a LOT better than previous models.
• Probably swap in the $400 DP only H-IPS panel and save $50, also need to check more on it

As always this is the time to point out errors and give feedback on the parts and suggestions and guides, etc. (No one ever does, but hey)

Especially need help in the Monitor department, although any specialists are greatly appreciated.

Summer project is to get a website up so I can casually explain some things, do some reviews, benches, instigating, etc.

 

[Mascot]

Beautiful thread.Simply beautiful.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

OT2 of me crying about the 800 series not being out yet every 25 pages.

 

[Skel1ingt0n]

Some notes:

• MX100 greatest thing since sliced bread, we'll see if the $100/256GB price holds or if it's temp
• As soon as the Phanteks Mini XL / Evolv are released they are going in. All the Phanteks cases seriously outclass the others at the moment.
• Z97/H97 boards are still tossups on what stays
• Initial impressions of Devils Canyon are lukewarm with minor temp changes and +100/200Mhz on OCs (And possibly harder to OC [H]). Biggest winner is the Pentium as a stopgap and the i7 getting a boost to 4.2(?)Ghz stock.
• Yes, your 2500K is still actually fine
• Please read OP, please.
• Need to vet the $80 headset a bit more, honestly thinking a cheap headset and Modmic are better since you can swap the Modmic and the 4.0 is a LOT better than previous models.

As always this is the time to point out errors and give feedback on the parts and suggestions and guides, etc. (No one ever does, but hey)

Especially need help in the Monitor department, although any specialists are greatly appreciated.

Summer project is to get a website up so I can casually explain some things, do some reviews, benches, instigating, etc.

MX100 best thing ever for the price, or truly best thing ever? Currently have a 240 Pro 256 for boot, and an older OWC Mercury 6G 500GB for games. It's quick... but not ZOMG quick. I'm thinking of updating it.

 

[GaimeGuy]

Just disabled the GTX 260M on my Asus G72-GX laptop about 15 minutes ago since I got snow at about 10 PM and it didn't stop after an hour. Not sure if I'll get a new Laptop or a desktop (Don't really have a desk to tether the desktop to - I use my laptop on the couch/at the coffee table, or in bed.) Most likely I'll wait it out for a few months and get a build (again, not sure if laptop or desktop) with a maxwell GPU and a quad core I7 - should allow me to game at 720p/1080p on all but the highest end games for the next 4 or 5 years.

Until then... WE INTEGRATED GRAPHICS!

 

[Blackage]

Some notes:

• MX100 greatest thing since sliced bread, we'll see if the $100/256GB price holds or if it's temp
• As soon as the Phanteks Mini XL / Evolv are released they are going in. All the Phanteks cases seriously outclass the others at the moment.
• Z97/H97 boards are still tossups on what stays
• Initial impressions of Devils Canyon are lukewarm with minor temp changes and +100/200Mhz on OCs (And possibly harder to OC [H]). Biggest winner is the Pentium as a stopgap and the i7 getting a boost to 4.2(?)Ghz stock.
• Yes, your 2500K is still actually fine
• Please read OP, please.
• Need to vet the $80 headset a bit more, honestly thinking a cheap headset and Modmic are better since you can swap the Modmic and the 4.0 is a LOT better than previous models.

As always this is the time to point out errors and give feedback on the parts and suggestions and guides, etc. (No one ever does, but hey)

Especially need help in the Monitor department, although any specialists are greatly appreciated.

Summer project is to get a website up so I can casually explain some things, do some reviews, benches, instigating, etc.

Should we include that the 4790K is fraudulent and can't hit 5GHz on air.

Oh well, bring on Haswell-E!

 

[Tablo]

Why not?

Free performance for adjust 2 values and 5 minutes of your time.

silent data corruption? (tho that legit sometimes makes me want to buy a non K sku lol)

 

[Hazaro]

I have a XL2420z whats the difference between it and the xl2411z.

Bout $100 and some red paint

MX100 best thing ever for the price, or truly best thing ever? Currently have a 240 Pro 256 for boot, and an older OWC Mercury 6G 500GB for games. It's quick... but not ZOMG quick. I'm thinking of updating it.

It's the first of the good SSDs with good controllers on 16nm with extremely aggressive pricing, we should see other models following suite. For the price. Performance is still great if you get the 256GB+ models, but even with the lower write speed and IO for most use it really (imo) does not matter.

If people care about that they can buy an M.2 or PCIE SSD (Non Raid 0).

Should we include that the 4790K is fraudulent and can't hit 5GHz on air.

Oh well, bring on Haswell-E!

Mentioned it was lukewarm, we'll see if there are some tricks to tinkering with it like it if likes more voltage on different parts and just slamming VCore isn't enough.

 

[Cuban Legend]

Can't wait to pay Smokey for dat 4790K!

This new thread has me very excited, especially as Retail samples of the 4790K start hitting reviewers! Please live up to the OC hype!

 

[FLAguy954]

OP needs to add RadeonPro to the utilities list, that program is the shit and is a must have for AMD GPU owners (and Nvidia owners on occasion).

 

[Reven]

Dat new thread doe. Nice op, good title too.

 

[Hazaro]

OP needs to add RadeonPro to the utilities list, that program is the shit and is a must have for AMD GPU owners (and Nvidia owners on occasion).

ITS THERE YOU FOOL

 

[dreamghost]

I apologize. here is the Build Questions.

Your Current Specs:None
Budget: $375 US
Main Use: Rate 1-5. 5 being Highest: Light Gaming - 2, Gaming - 5, Emulation (PS2/Wii) - 3, Video Editing - 1, Streaming games in HD - 1, 3D/Model work (and what program) - 1, General Usage (Word, Web, 1080p playback) - 2.
Monitor Resolution: Samsung Plasma 3D HDTV 720p PN43D490, no not upgrading.
List SPECIFIC games or applications that you MUST be able to run well: 30 - 60 fps at 720p for games released in next 2 years low to high settings.
Looking to reuse any parts?: Western Digital 500 GBs Sata 3 7200rpm, 500w psu, sata dvdrw)
When will you build?: ASAP but willing to wait a little bit if something new is on the horizon
Will you be overclocking?: Maybe depends how much more it adds to the cost.

OG Post.

Need some advice. Building a cheap gaming PC that i will hook up to my Samsung plasma TV. The tv is 720p so this is the resolution i will be gaming in. I would like to play the newest games (Watch Dogs, Witcher 3, Planetside 2, The Division, Arkham Origins) for the next 2 years at least medium to high settings at a ok frame rate.

On the CPU i was looking at something like the FX 6300 by AMD or the Intel i3-4150. The AMD chip has six cores compared to the Intel's 2 cores (discounting ht) but the Intel chip has a clearer upgrade path. These chips are around $100 and thats my CPU budget.

The graphics card i have bought Nvidia since the geforce 2 but im open to AMD cards. Cards i have considered in my budget ($180 is max) have been the gtx 750ti, the gtx 660 (not ti), the r7 260x, & the r9 270. All cards are 2gb gddr5. From what i can tell the 660 is the most powerful card and the most expensive but does not look that more powerful. I dont want to pay $80 more for 10% more performance.

Motherboard, Ram, PSU will be decided once i can come to a decision on the above. The machine will run Windows 8.



Sorry for the long ramble but any help would be very appreciated. Also if you run your gaming pc on your tv and have some advice on that please share.

 

[Hazaro]

Should I add a .gif banner with lights around the [Build Questions]? I need some way to highlight it I think.

Need some advice. Building a cheap gaming PC that i will hook up to my Samsung plasma TV. The tv is 720p so this is the resolution i will be gaming in. I would like to play the newest games (Watch Dogs, Witcher 3, Planetside 2, The Division, Arkham Origins) for the next 2 years at least medium to high settings at a ok frame rate.

On the CPU i was looking at something like the FX 6300 by AMD or the Intel i3-4150. The AMD chip has six cores compared to the Intel's 2 cores (discounting ht) but the Intel chip has a clearer upgrade path. These chips are around $100 and thats my CPU budget.

The graphics card i have bought Nvidia since the geforce 2 but im open to AMD cards. Cards i have considered in my budget ($180 is max) have been the gtx 750ti, the gtx 660 (not ti), the r7 260x, & the r9 270. All cards are 2gb gddr5. From what i can tell the 660 is the most powerful card and the most expensive but does not look that more powerful. I dont want to pay $80 more for 10% more performance.

Motherboard, Ram, PSU will be decided once i can come to a decision on the above. The machine will run Windows 8.

Sorry for the long ramble but any help would be very appreciated. Also if you run your gaming pc on your tv and have some advice on that please share.

Fill out the bullet points in the OP, a computer budget is most important here. I think people here can balance it out for you. PS2 is a CPU hog, even 4Ghz i7's barely cut it.
*Slashed Pentium rec because of PS2/WD

 

[Serandur]

Should I add a .gif banner with lights around the [Build Questions]? I need some way to highlight it I think.

Fill out the bullet points in the OP, but it sounds like you could be a good guinea pig candidate for a G3258 when it launches if you are comfortable overclocking it.

Speaking of guinea pigs, anyone try delidding their 4690K/4790K yet?

 

[Hazaro]

Speaking of guinea pigs, anyone try delidding their 4690K/4790K yet?

It's not out so no? Review sites are churning out reviews as fast as they can. People already said they will delid when they get them.

 

[Tablo]

. PS2 is a CPU hog, even 4Ghz i7's barely cut it.
*Slashed Pentium rec because of PS2/WD

Yeah the i3s are definitely the minimum now.
As for PS2 I hope with the PS4 release they'll bring over tangible CPU optimizations to the PC build... That's what they've led us to believe so far at least.

 

[Katyusha]

2500k can run Witcher 3? I sure hope so.

Also, I really need to pick up an MX100. My 60 GB OCZ SSD really isn't cutting in terms of storage space.

 

[neurosisxeno]

Need some advice. Building a cheap gaming PC that i will hook up to my Samsung plasma TV. The tv is 720p so this is the resolution i will be gaming in. I would like to play the newest games (Watch Dogs, Witcher 3, Planetside 2, The Division, Arkham Origins) for the next 2 years at least medium to high settings at a ok frame rate.

You're probably looking at a $600-800 investment just going by those, and nobody can make any promises on The Division or Witcher 3. More than likely since they are also console games you will be fine with 4ish threads.

On the CPU i was looking at something like the FX 6300 by AMD or the Intel i3-4150. The AMD chip has six cores compared to the Intel's 2 cores (discounting ht) but the Intel chip has a clearer upgrade path. These chips are around $100 and thats my CPU budget.

AMD CPU's are pretty awful all around. The only situation where one is worthwhile is if you already have am AM3+ compatible mobo and a good setup built around that, but since you're going from scratch honestly Intel is better in every regard.

The graphics card i have bought Nvidia since the geforce 2 but im open to AMD cards. Cards i have considered in my budget ($180 is max) have been the gtx 750ti, the gtx 660 (not ti), the r7 260x, & the r9 270. All cards are 2gb gddr5. From what i can tell the 660 is the most powerful card and the most expensive but does not look that more powerful. I dont want to pay $80 more for 10% more performance.

There are a few GTX 660's on Newegg for $180. Either that or the R9 270 are your best bet, but I prefer Nvidia.

Motherboard, Ram, PSU will be decided once i can come to a decision on the above. The machine will run Windows 8.

Fill out OP.

 

[GaimeGuy]

So if I do build a new PC, I'll be in need of a workstation/desk to put it on, and a comfy chair to sit in.. For now, I think I'd like to get those out of the way.

Any recommendations, GAF?

 

[Objectively Bad Opinion]

So if I do build a new PC, I'll be in need of a workstation/desk to put it on, and a comfy chair to sit in.. For now, I think I'd like to get those out of the way.

Any recommendations, GAF?

flea market table

use what you save to get a really comfy chair

chair > desk

 

[Serandur]

It's not out so no? Review sites are churning out reviews as fast as they can. People already said they will delid when they get them.

Oops, sorry. Just excited to find out what they're putting under the IHS.



Small detail, but aren't the 4690Ks stock-clocked at 3.5 GHz and the 4790K at 4.0? The build sheets have them listed as 3.4 and 3.5 respectively?

 

[Hazaro]

Oops, sorry. Just excited to find out what they're putting under the IHS.

Small detail, but aren't the 4690Ks stock-clocked at 3.5 GHz and the 4790K at 4.0? The build sheets have them listed as 3.4 and 3.5 respectively?

Something is always wrong on the sheet, thanks for the catch. I even mentioned the speed bump in the thread twice.

 

[The Wizard]

It the 760 a good buy at the moment or am I better off waiting / getting something a bit more powerful? I have a 4670k at the moment and looking for a decent combination of price / performance from a GPU for the next few years.

 

[adamantypants]

I'll just get it out of the way

Spoiler

Where's Devil's Canyon and Maxwell?

As always great thread guys.

 

[Serandur]

Something is always wrong on the sheet, thanks for the catch. I even mentioned the speed bump in the thread twice.

Just a couple others too, the 290s/Xs state 3 GBs in the sheets as opposed to 4 and the Good Haswell Build at the top of mkenyon's post has an i5-4970 listed as opposed to 4570/4670 (?).

 

[CreepingFear]

Thank you Hazaro and Mkenyon for another great thread. I'll be living through all the people upgrading in this thread because it looks like late 2015 at the earliest is when I'll be able to upgrade.

 

[Tablo]

I think I might just do a build and get a nice mech keyboard, keep my 670, and get a Synology DS414 NAS and four 3-4TB drives for it, then get a Maxwell in early 2015...
I'm not seeing good value going from a 670 right now for me personally.

 

[Hazaro]

It the 760 a good buy at the moment or am I better off waiting / getting something a bit more powerful? I have a 4670k at the moment and looking for a decent combination of price / performance from a GPU for the next few years.

Depends what you have now, what res, what games, how bad you want to upgrade / are you unhappy, how long you can wait, what's your budget.

The more info you give the more people can help you.

I'll just get it out of the way

Spoiler

Where's Devil's Canyon and Maxwell?

As always great thread guys.

/slap read the op /slap

Stuck in mehville unless you are getting a new i7

Just a couple others too, the 290s/Xs state 3 GBs in the sheets as opposed to 4 and the Good Haswell Build at the top of mkenyon's post has an i5-4970 listed as opposed to 4570/4670 (?).

Oof that one is embarrassing considering I'm going to mess with my 290s this week. I'll chalk it up to being tired and replacing the 780's with 290's. Updated. mkenyon is on his own

I think I might just do a build and get a nice mech keyboard, keep my 670, and get a Synology DS414 NAS and four 3-4TB drives for it, then get a Maxwell in early 2015...
I'm not seeing good value going from a 670 right now for me personally.

If I don't like the swap to AMD on 290s I'll just keep my 670. It's a trooper and still performs faster than a 760.
If you want an upgrade you can get a used 290 with a good cooler for $300-$320 shipped.

Spoiler

Or go crazy and get a G10/HG10 and water cooler plus a reference card for $240

 

[CreepingFear]

What do you think I should try to sell an Antec P280 for? I never used it, but opened it up to make sure it wasn't damaged in shipping. I saw it on Amazon and Newegg for $110. I tried to sell it this weekend on Craigslist for $75, but I'm not getting any bites.

 

[Tablo]

If I don't like the swap to AMD on 290s I'll just keep my 670. It's a trooper and still performs faster than a 760.
If you want an upgrade you can get a used 290 with a good cooler for $300-$320 shipped.

Spoiler

Or go crazy and get a G10/HG10 and water cooler plus a reference card for $240

Yeah man the 290 is a fucking beast perf wise, kinda spanks Nvidia atm
I'm just really loving Nvidia's software side, so I guess I'm (happily?) locked into them xD
Oh well, I really do need a NAS setup though.
If you by any chance know anything about NAS...I was considering the Synology DS414...And some Seagate NAS drives, since apparently those are getting decent reviews.

 

[LordAlu]

Should I add a .gif banner with lights around the [Build Questions]? I need some way to highlight it I think.

You need to put it right at the top or something, with a big banner saying "Are you building a new PC? Read this! Not building one? Skip the questions!"

 

[Hazaro]

What do you think I should try to sell an Antec P280 for? I never used it, but opened it up to make sure it wasn't damaged in shipping. I saw it on Amazon and Newegg for $110. I tried to sell it this weekend on Craigslist for $75, but I'm not getting any bites.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=antec+p280&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc

Yeah man the 290 is a fucking beast perf wise, kinda spanks Nvidia atm
I'm just really loving Nvidia's software side, so I guess I'm (happily?) locked into them xD
Oh well, I really do need a NAS setup though.
If you by any chance know anything about NAS...I was considering the Synology DS414...And some Seagate NAS drives, since apparently those are getting decent reviews.

We got a 2 slot Synology at work to setup for someone else, but I haven't poked at it beyond basic setup.

You need to put it right at the top or something, with a big banner saying "Are you building a new PC? Read this! Not building one? Skip the questions!"

 

[LordAlu]

The watermark makes it perfect.

 

[hockeypuck]

In the spreadsheet, the case choices for "Excellent" and "Enthusiast" builds are confusing. There's no default for "Excellent" and the prices listed conflict those listed under "Enthusiast."

Also looks like a phrase got deleted under the SSD notes.

 

[Serandur]

Oof that one is embarrassing considering I'm going to mess with my 290s this week. I'll chalk it up to being tired and replacing the 780's with 290's. Updated. mkenyon is on his own

There better be pictures.

Yeah man the 290 is a fucking beast perf wise, kinda spanks Nvidia atm
I'm just really loving Nvidia's software side, so I guess I'm (happily?) locked into them xD
Oh well, I really do need a NAS setup though.
If you by any chance know anything about NAS...I was considering the Synology DS414...And some Seagate NAS drives, since apparently those are getting decent reviews.

Yeah, it does. Man, I paid $510 for my 780 a couple months back, really puts the "Nvidia tax" into context. I love downsampling too much though.

 

[Hazaro]

In the spreadsheet, the case choices for "Excellent" and "Enthusiast" builds are confusing. There's no default for "Excellent" and the prices listed conflict those listed under "Enthusiast."

Also looks like a phrase got deleted under the SSD notes.

How does this even happen. Fixed, thank you.

There better be pictures.

Yeah, if I stop having to update the OP image every 15 minutes at 1am I'll get on it.

 

[No Love]

God thread right here. Good job Hazaro!